When I grew up in Brooklyn, Islam and Muslims were
invisible to me. When the department chair in graduate school suggested I take a
course in Islam in the late 1960s, I thought “Why should I do that; how would I
ever get a job?”

Today, Islam and Middle East often dominate the headlines. American Muslims are
an integral part of the American mosaic: Islam is now the third largest and
fastest growing religion in America.

At the turn of the century, given the explosion of
information on Islam and its growing presence in the American public square
(Islamic centers, Muslim social and educational organizations, and the greater
numbers of Muslims in our schools and universities, and professions), I was
writing a new book, The Future of Islam: Muslims in the 21 st Century.
But, all of this changed on September 11, 2001 with the devastating national
tragedy that took the lives of so many innocent Americans, including American
Muslims. Instead, I wrote Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam as well
as What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam in order to respond to a
series of never-ending questions: “Why do they hate us?,” “ What are the causes
of Muslim extremism and terrorism?,” “Is Islam a violent religion?”

In the aftermath of September 11, President George
Walker Bush emphasized that America was waging a war against global terrorism,
not against Islam. However, the continued acts of a terrorist minority, coupled
with statements by preachers of hate (Muslim and Christian) as well as
anti-Muslim talk show hosts and political commentators have obscured our
understanding of the second largest of the world’s religions and of the
mainstream Muslim majority. The result is reflected in a recent USA Today/Gallup
Poll which found substantial minorities of Americans admitting to negative
feelings or prejudice against Muslims and favor heightened security measures
with Muslims to help prevent terrorism. 44% say Muslims are too extreme in their
religious beliefs. Nearly one quarter of Americans, 22%, say they would not want
a Muslim as a neighbor; fewer than half believe U.S. Muslims are loyal to the
United States.

Today, while many Americans see a war against global
terrorism, many in the Muslim world see a war against Islam and Muslims. How do
Muslims from Morocco to Indonesia view America? Is there a blind hatred of our
way of life? A recent Gallup World Poll indicates the opposite. Muslims in 10
countries polled (Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia) said that what they most admired about
America, after technology and scientific advancement, was its value system, hard
work, liberty, freedom of choice, rule of law, fair political systems and gender
equality. Overwhelming majorities in every Muslim country polled support freedom
of speech and majorities in virtually every country also felt women should have
the same legal rights as men.

What do Muslims believe would improve relations with
the West? Respondents’ most frequent replies were "demonstrate more
understanding and respect for Islam"; help with "economic development/jobs"; and
"stop interfering in our affairs." Most did not believe that the US was serious
about promoting real self-determination and democracy in the region. The
conclusion? Anti-western feelings result from our policies and actions, not from
our way of life, culture or religion.

Five years after 9/11, both growing anti-Americanism
in the Muslim world and Islamophobia, discrimination against or hostility
towards Islam or Muslims in our multireligious and multicultural West, are
growing threats. Muslims and non-Muslims alike have all been victims of global
terrorism. Both must be part of the solution rather the problem. Both must hold
political leaders accountable for failed policies and combat their preachers and
theologies of hate: militant religious and political leaders, ideologues, and
media commentators who engage in mutual demonization. If America is to play a
role in building a new Middle East, a new debate in America must take place to
recapture those principles and values that made America great and which many
Muslims have admired.

John L. Esposito is University Professor of Religion & International Affairs,
Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian
Understanding, Georgetown University and author of Unholy War: Terror in the
Name of Islam and co-author with Dalia Mogahed of Can You Hear Me Now?
Listening to the Voices of One Billion Muslims(forthcoming).